Frequent Questions

3. What are radionuclides?, like Radium (combined), health effects?

Some people who drink water containing radium 226 or radium 228 in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

(Adjusted) Gross Alpha

Some people who drink water containing alpha emitters in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Beta Particle and Photon Radioactivity

Some people who drink water containing beta particles and photon emitters in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

Uranium

Exposure to uranium in drinking water may result in toxic effects to the kidney. Some people who drink water containing alpha emitters, such as uranium, in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer.

This health effects language is not intended to catalog all possible health effects for radionuclides. Rather, it is intended to inform consumers of the most significant and probable health effects, associated with radionuclides in drinking water.